|
| |
| Dongji Hoi |
|
| Dr. Syngman Rhee and Young people | In
1921, an association called the Dongji Hoi was organized in Honolulu to
support the Korean Independence Movement under the leadership of Dr.
Syngman Rhee, who in April 1919 was elected first president of the
Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in exile in Shanghai.
Branches were established in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, New York
and several islands in Hawaii. These branches were dissolved after Korea's
liberation from Japan.
Since the independence of Korea after Work
War II, the Dongji Hoi no longer exists for political purposes. Today, its
purpose is to enhance Korean heritage in social, cultural, educational and
other related activities for the benefit of Korean residents in Hawaii.
Its primary emphasis is to provide scholarships to deserving students
(both high school graduates and college students) of Korean or part-Korean
ancestry. Currently, ten awards of $1250 each are made annually from the
"Dr. Syngman Rhee Scholarship" fund. Awardees are invited to join the
Dongji Hoi. Upon completion of their education, their active participation
in the Dongji Hoi is encouraged to help perpetuate and expand the purposes
of the Association.
Significant support given by the Dongji Hoi to
the Korean Independence Movement and the Korean Community in Hawaii and
abroad are summarize below.
Provisional Government of the
Republic Korea in Exile
The Dongji Hoi supported the
Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in exile and various other
organizations which were fighting for Korean Independence through funds
collected from Korean residents and supporters throughout the world, and
especially Americans, who were sympathetic to the movement. In addition,
support was provided through the sale of Korean bonds which were redeemed
by the Korean Government when it became independent. These bonds were
indeed redeemed.
Korean Christian Institute
The
Dongji Hoi supported and furthered the Korean Christian Institute, a
school for the children of Korean immigrants, which was founded and run by
Dr. Syngman Rhee, until it was closed in 1953.
Inha
University, Inchon, Korea
The Association donated to the Inha
University (formerly the Inha Technical College), $180,000 in proceeds
from the sales of the properties of the former Institute. This donation
was to commemorate the Korean immigrants departure from Inchon Harbor. The
name Inha is a derivative of Inchon and Hawaii.
Korean Care
Home
A sum of $50,000 was donated to the Korean Christian
Church for the management of the Korean Care Home (formerly the Korean Old
Men's Home).
Korean Christian Churches
The
Dongji Hoi actively supported the established Korean Christian churches of
Honolulu, Wahiawa and Hilo and their affiliated Korean language schools.
Korean Consulate General Building
The Dongji
Hoi, on its own, procured the previous Korean Consulate General building
on Hassinger Street and donated it to the Korean Government.
Korean Newspaper
The Dongji Hoi supported the
Korean Independence Movement by publishing the "Hankuk Taepyungyang Jubo
(Korean Pacific Weekly)." The publication was ended in 1970.
|
|
|
